Dennis Byrd
| No. 90 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Date of birth: | October 5, 1966 | ||||
| Place of birth: | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | ||||
| Date of death: | October 15, 2016 (aged 50) | ||||
| Place of death: | Claremore, Oklahoma | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 270 lb (122 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Mustang (OK) | ||||
| College: | Tulsa | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1989 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
| Sacks: | 28 |
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| Safeties: | 1 |
Dennis DeWayne Byrd (October 5, 1966 – October 15, 2016) was an American football defensive end and defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He attended college at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He played professionally for the Jets for four seasons beginning in 1989. Over his four seasons, he recorded 28 sacks and 110 tackles. His career ended when he was paralyzed following a collision with a teammate during a game. Through rehabilitation, he later managed to walk again.
Byrd was killed in a car accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, on October 15, 2016.
Byrd attended Mustang High School in Mustang, Oklahoma. In his senior year, he was named an All-State defensive end. He enrolled at the University of Tulsa, where he played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Byrd started for the Golden Hurricane defense for four seasons, registering 321 tackles and 20 quarterback sacks. College Football News selected Byrd as a All-American honorable mention after his senior season, where he had 108 tackles, 11 sacks, and 35 quarterback hurries.
The New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) selected Byrd in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft, with the hope that he could succeed Mark Gastineau. He played for the Jets as a backup defensive end in a 3–4 defense in 1989, registering seven sacks. The Jets switched to a 4–3 defense in 1990, and Byrd became a defensive tackle that season. Byrd made 13 sacks in 1990 and seven sacks in 1991. He again played as a defensive end in 1992. Byrd missed a month of the 1992 season due to a shoulder injury.
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